Jagoba Arrasate was on pre-match press conference duties ahead of our trip to Seville to face Real Betis. Find out what the boss had to say below:
On Muriqi and Asano: Muriqi has a muscle tear, which is not too big but it will be difficult to recover him before the break. Takuma has an injury that prevents him from being at 100%. In theory it doesn't seem much, but it's a lot of games in a row. He's just come back from a long trip with the national team – he wasn't completely convinced and that's why we decided not to include him in the squad.
On Muriqi's absence: I'm thinking about the solutions we have in the squad. I'm not going to say that he's a very important player because we all know that, but the team showed the other day, even with changes, that he can give a good performance. We are always thinking about what the solutions are and what we have to do, knowing that he is an important loss.
On right-back: The positive news is that Pablo Maffeo has recovered well, probably sooner than expected. We have alternatives with Mateu [Jaume], Antonio [Sánchez] and Valery. We have already made a decision and tomorrow you will see.
On when Muriqi will return: It is difficult to get him back before the break. With Maffeo it was estimated a time and he has shortened the time; in other cases there can be a relapse. In the first days it is difficult. Until we see the evolution of the injury, it doesn't make sense to say it's three, four or five weeks. In a week's time we'll know more exactly where we need to focus our attention, but it's difficult for him to play before the break.
On the schedule and injuries: It's not ideal for us, but we see it from our point of view. The player wants to play with us and with his national team as well. As long as the calendar is like that, you have to deal with that a little bit. Can it be a coincidence that the injured players are the two players who have been with the national team and there have been others who have not been injured? The more tickets you buy, the easier it is to win the lottery, although in this case it's not a lottery, it's the other way around. I know that they are rethinking things and we will have to think a bit, because it doesn't make much sense to have a break in September, October and November and that there are players who play two games in that break and have to make very long trips. I know that they are thinking about grouping everything in a break and I hope that this is the case.
On Real Betis: It's true that until the market closed there was uncertainty about which players they were going to have, but look at their last two home games, when they already had a settled squad and won. It's a very complicated game and it's a good test for us to see, after the win the other day, if we're capable of playing another good game. I think those are the good teams: the ones that, after winning, play another good game.
On RCD Mallorca: I would like to see a similar team to the last one, which doesn't mean that the XI will be similar. But we have to see a bit of everything: the players' form, the game plan... We've just beaten Leganés away from home, where we showed that we can be competitive away from home and we want to corroborate that on a complicated stage.
On playing two strikers against Real Madrid: It was a combination of everything. The strikers were good, the inside players were very good, the midfielders, too, the back four, the goalkeeper... every match is different. I think this time, the height of their full-backs is going to be higher, so it's going to be more difficult to direct the pressure to one side and then swing and steal there. The idea is to be brave tomorrow as well. On these pitches, if the game only goes one way, it's difficult to get a good result. I think we have to threaten them and make them run backwards. That's easy to say, but difficult to do. Beyond the strikers, I think we were all good against Real and we want to give them continuity.
On Larin and Abdón: I can talk to them as much as I want, but what gives them the most confidence is that they play. That's why it's important to keep the people involved, because during the year there will be injuries and other things and the player who is going to leave must feel the coach's confidence. They are more about actions than words.
On three away games in a row: I think we have to get rid of the idea that the team doesn't have to do well away from home. In Leganés we showed that we can be competitive and win. It's true that in recent years we've achieved better results at home, but I think the team can be just as competitive away. There are three away games coming up, but we're not thinking about those three, we're thinking about tomorrow. If we play a good game, regardless of whether it's away or at home, we'll have more chances of winning.
On LaLiga: I think it's too early to make an assessment. It's been an irregular start with several games in a few days, with the market open. I think that in a month or two months' time we'll be able to see a little bit. I think it's still too early. We shouldn't draw generalised conclusions because in the end one victory changes everything.
On fans and the matchday schedule: I like football and I like to watch it, especially at the start of the season when the teams are still developing. As a spectator it's perfect although I think it's also too much because sometimes you have to stop and then pick it up with more momentum, if that's even possible. Right now, especially when you play on Monday, you have to watch the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and you're waiting for yours, which is a long time coming. The best thing to do is to play on Friday and win, and then watch the whole day.
